PARKLAND (Released to the Venice Film Festival, Venice Italy 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Parkland, a refreshing 93-minute exploration of the JFK assassination, approaches its subject matter from a completely different perspective while skillfully interweaving actual broadcast radio recordings and archival footage throughout the film’s approach to its storyline. The film is based on the book “Four Days In November” written by Vincent Bugliosi. It’s a worthy addition to films dedicated to this subject. Watch for a superb performance by Zac Efron as Dr. Charles “Jim” Carrico.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The John F. Kennedy assassination is re-examined through the eyes of ordinary persons impacted by the event—medical personnel, FBI agents, and the Oswald family.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Peter Landesman for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Tobin Armbrust, Guy East, Brian Falk, Joe Ricketts, and Ginger Sledge for making the film possible. Cast include: Paul Giamatti, Marcia Gay-Harden, Ron Livingston, Billy Bob Thornton, Jeremy Strong, Jacki Weaver, Kat Steffens, and James Badge Dale.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film is a 50^th Anniversary memoriam to the JFK assassination event. It’s a good watch.

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Ben Meyers

THE ADVENTURES OF MILO AND OTIS (Cannes International Film Festival, Cannes France 1986)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

The Adventures of Milo and Otis—a 1986 British-narrated Japanese film—tells a cute and well-narrated story about a kitten named Milo and his puppy friend named Otis. The movie uses staging techniques so professionally and with such artistry that the live animal performance scenes are believable and entertaining throughout its 77 minutes. The moral of the tale becomes ‘there is always a way home if you really want to go home.’ The film contains good wildlife scenery and performs as a good, clean pick for young children.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director and Writer Masanori Hata. Thank you to Executive Producers Hisashi Hieda and Haruo Shikanai for making the film possible. Music Composer is Michael Boddicker. Excellent narration by Dudley Moore.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This film works in every way.  

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Ben Meyers

STAR TREK (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì   Star Trek—okay to suitable watch—hides story flaws behind special effects. The special effects, animation, makeup, and choice of cast are outstanding. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are great picks for youthful look-alikes of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. The movie notably lacks the 'magic' of the first series. But, this movie will suit for 'trekkies' and 'trekkers'.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline James Kirk (Chris Pine) attends Starfleet Academy and meets Doctor McCoy and Captain Pike. During training the cadets are mobilized to answer a distress signal coming from Vulcan. They board the Enterprise and the story is on.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director J.J. Abrams for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Bryan Burk, Jeffrey Chernov, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci for making the film possible. Cast include: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, and John Cho.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a suitable watch and story with very good special effects, animation, make-up, and casting.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SECRETARIAT (Released to Theaters USA 2010)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Secretariat, suitable film, does have its inspirational scenes. Actress Diane Lane performs at the suitable level and works from a script that very nicely details the story of the racing farm that creates the award winning horse, Secretariat. The rest of the cast follows the lead of the well-written script. The story portrayal and presentation are suitable to okay. John Malkovich plays the role of Secretariat's trainer and adds the flavor to balance the story. Watch for Dylan Baker and James Cromwell's performance. This film's content and welcome introduction into a behind the scenes look at racing farms, how negotiations are made and maintained, and the knowledge required to enhance potential are wonderfully enlightening. This movie is based on a true story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) needs a winning streak to save the family farm and finds that luck in a foal she raises.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Randall Wallace for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Bill Johnson and Mike Rich, Cast include: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Miss Ham Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Dalton Thompson, James Cromwell, and Scott Glenn.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It is a suitable to okay movie that has a good story to tell.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CASTLE IN THE SKY (Theatrical Release Japan 1986)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

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Castle in the Sky is a very creative film, tells a great story that is almost re-watchable,  and works the 'shrouded in mystery' theme quite well. The film works at a highly imaginative level. It is a wonderful watch overall.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The young girl, Sheeta’s (voice of Anna Paquin) airship is under attack by Dola (voice of Cloris Leachman). Sheeta crawls out a ship window, tries to scale a beam, trips, and falls. But, a necklace around her neck gently floats her to a town where Pazu (voice of James Van Der Beek) lives. Sheeta learns that the necklace is made of a stone that keeps cities afloat in the upper atmosphere. Through a series of adventures, Sheeta arrives in Laputa, one of these floating sky cities.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Hayao Miyazaki for directing efforts. Thank you to Planners Hideo Ogata, and Tatsumi, Thank you to Executive Producer Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Producer Isao Takahata,  Animation Producer Tôru Hara, for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Richard Dysart, Jim Cummings, John Hosetter,Michael McShane, Mandy Patinkin, Andy Dick, Corey Burton, Tress McNeille,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie's meaning develops throughout its watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GOLDENEYE (Theatrical Release USA 1995)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì

GoldenEye—probably one of the best Bond movies to date—casts Pierce Brosnan into a WOW movie that captures the 007 Bond persona perfectly. What a film! Bravo! It really works on every level. Judi Dench is one of the best M characterizations yet. Director Martin Campbell outdid himself. Director Roger Spottiswoode will have a difficult directing act to follow as he receives his assignment for the next Bond film: Tomorrow Never Dies.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Bond’s new assignment becomes: keeping Britain’s financial institutions intact from attack.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Martin Campbell for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Tom Pevsner for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen), Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker), M (Judi Dench), Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane), Dimitri Mishkin (Tchéky Karyo), Colonel Ourumov (Gottfried John), Boris Grishenko (Alan Cumming), Q (Desmond Llewelyn), and Moneypenny (Samantha Bond).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. One of the best James Bond films to date. Wow! Can Martin Campbell (Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro) direct!

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Ben Meyers

CHICKEN WITH PLUMS * (Released to Theaters France 2011)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Stars ìììì

Chicken With Plums—has imagination, heart. It's just a wonderful story, a French film written by an Iranian author who writes with perfect universal appeal. The acting is superb. The story plays out well. It’s one of 2012’s better 4-star films.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Violinist Nasser Ali Khan (Mathieu Amalric) loses his desire to play violin and decides to go to bed to die. The process takes exactly 8 days. In those days he reviews the future of his children, why he married his wife, the power of prayer, the angel of death, a long-lost love, and how he became a wonderful violinist.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jeremy Burdek and Nadia Khamlichi for making the film possible. Cast include: Edouard Baer, Maria de Medeiros, Golshifteh Farahani, Éric Caravaca, Chiara Mastroianni, Mathis Bour, Enna Balland, Didier Flamand, Serge Avedikian, Rona Hartner, and Jamel Debbouze.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a piece of allegorical art that relies on its own uniquely rhythmic poetry.

* Also known as: Poulet aux Prunes

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers